Americans United - Jessica Ahlquisthttps://www.au.org/tags/jessica-ahlquist
enBanner Battle, Final Chapter: R.I. School Erects Secular Principleshttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-battle-final-chapter-ri-school-erects-secular-principles
<a href="/about/people/dominic-vallosio-0">Dominic Vallosio</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> It seems that a Rhode Island high school has learned quite a bit from Jessica Ahlquist and her lawsuit against a prayer banner.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The town of Cranston, R.I., recently showed just how effectually a church/state issue can be resolved. The local high school’s controversial and religiously-themed banner was <a href="http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130921-cranston-high-school-wests-new-mural-means-no-more-controversy.ece">replaced by a new, secular and inspirational banner</a>.</p><p>The high school was the site of controversy in 2011 after Jessica Ahlquist, then a 16-year old student at Cranston High School West, complained about the school’s religiously themed banner. The banner, which took the form of a prayer and contained the words “Our Heavenly Father” and “Amen,” was a gift from the Class of 1963 and had hung in the high school’s auditorium for 50 years.</p><p>Ahlquist, an atheist and activist, enlisted the help of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union and sued the school, claiming the banner was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ronald R Lageueux agreed and ordered that the banner be removed. The school complied with the decision instead of spending an estimated $500,000 in legal fees to appeal to a higher court.</p><p>After filling the lawsuit, Ahlquist received a none-too-Christian torrent of <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ahlquist-is-awesome-standup-student-in-ri-stays-calm-despite-vicious">hate mail and physical threats</a> from defenders of the banner. The morally and grammatically repugnant responses on social media included, “I hope there's lots of banners in hell when your (sic) rotting in there,” “Your (sic) a puke and a disgrace to the human race” and numerous rape threats.</p><p>Others called for people to “jump” Ahlquist and “punch her in the face,” with one person going so far as threatening the life of Jessica, her sister and her father. (Perhaps the “love thy neighbor” bit was left out of Cranston’s Bibles?) The threats were so intense that Ahlquist had to finish her final year of high school from home.</p><p>Americans United recognized Ahlquist’s efforts by awarding her the <a href="https://au.org/church-state/january-2013-church-state/people-events/author-jeff-sharlet-student-activist-jessica">Youth Activist Award</a> last year.</p><p>The new banner, donated to the school by the same Class of 1963, in order to celebrate their 50-year reunion, contained no theological statements. Instead, the banner uses the school’s mascot – a falcon – as an acronym. It reads:</p><ul><li><strong>F</strong>oster an atmosphere of good will and respect</li><li><strong>A</strong>ffirm our efforts to conduct ourselves with honor</li><li><strong>L</strong>earn from our achievements and mistakes</li><li><strong>C</strong>hoose wisely the paths taken and friends made</li><li><strong>O</strong>vercome prejudice and embrace diversity</li><li><strong>N</strong>urture ourselves, families, friends and communities</li><li><strong>S</strong>trive for excellence in all our future endeavors</li></ul><p>An accompanying “School Creed” contains similar sentiments – all secular.</p><p>With a message like this, it seems the school learned quite a bit from Jessica and her lawsuit. Hopefully those who flocked to social media to condemn Jessica to hell will pay attention to the school’s new banner and adopt its principles.</p><p>Apparently, the community is relieved to put the issue behind them and move on. “The community is healed,” said member of the Class of 1963 Janice Bertino. “There is no more controversy.”</p><p>This is what those of us who advocate for church-state separation strive for in a resolution of these issues. Here the offending parties realize their mistake and sufficiently correct it, thus strengthening the community in the process. Meanwhile, the offended party is able to see her efforts come to a satisfying and concrete conclusion.</p><p>It seems that everyone was completely satisfied by this resolution -- well, almost everyone. The new secular banner was unveiled at an invitation-only reception, but one notable player in this controversy did not receive an invite: Jessica Ahlquist. Perhaps the school needs a more intensive review of its new FALCONS motto.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-displays-and-holidays">Religious Displays and Holidays</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/west-cranston">West Cranston</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/janice-bertino">Janice Bertino</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ronald-r-lageueux">Ronald R Lageueux</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/american-civil-liberties-union">American Civil Liberties Union</a></span></div></div>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:41:54 +0000Rob Boston8981 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-battle-final-chapter-ri-school-erects-secular-principles#commentsMarriage Malarkey: R.I. Man Loses ‘Faith-Based’ Lawsuit Against Same-Sex Unionshttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/marriage-malarkey-ri-man-loses-faith-based-lawsuit-against-same-sex-unions
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">To hear Religious Right groups tell it, the actions of others – whether it’s the use of birth control or someone’s decision to marry the person he or she loves – can be an assault on a third party’s religious liberty.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Starting tomorrow, same-sex couples in Rhode Island will be able to <a href="http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130731-with-same-sex-weddings-starting-thursday-in-r.i.-cities-and-towns-field-questions.ece">legally marry</a> – despite the best efforts of a local Religious Right activist to stop them.</p><p>The Rhode Island legislature approved marriage equality earlier this year, and Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the measure into law. At the time, Chafee invoked the spirit of the state’s founder, iconic religious liberty pioneer Roger Williams.</p><p>“Today we are making history…We are living up to the ideals of our founder,” Chafee said.</p><p>With marriages scheduled to begin Aug. 1, Ronald L’Heureux, a Rhode Island man who cofounded a group called the Faith Alliance to Preserve the Sanctity of Marriage as Defined by God, made a last-ditch effort to block the ceremonies.</p><p>L’Heureux went to state court and, representing himself, sought a temporary restraining order. He argued that same-sex marriage would somehow affect his ability to practice his faith and thus violated the religious freedom provisions of the Rhode Island Constitution.</p><p>Not surprisingly, the court was <a href="http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130730-judge-denies-restraining-order-to-stop-same-sex-marriages.ece">not persuaded</a>. Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini said L’Heureux had fallen “far short” of the standard required to win such an order.</p><p>The argument put forth by L’Heurerux is exceptionally weak, but it’s one we’re seeing a lot of these days from the Religious Right. To hear these groups tell it, somehow the actions of others – whether it’s the use of birth control or someone’s decision to marry the person he or she loves – can be an assault on a third party’s religious liberty.</p><p>In fact, all of those same-sex couples in Rhode Island who will get married tomorrow and afterward won’t affect L’Heureux’s ability to engage in religious activity one iota. He can still attend the church of his choice, pray, read the Bible, sing hymns, proselytize door to door, etc.</p><p>L’Heureux sounds like quite a piece of work. When high school student Jessica Ahlquist of Cranston, R.I.,<a href="https://www.au.org/church-state/april-2012-church-state/au-bulletin/rhode-island-student-wins-prayer-banner-lawsuit"> sued to have a prayer banner removed </a>from her public school in 2011, L’Heureux was dismayed. He even <a href="http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/Rev-from-Council-of-Churches-expresses-support-for-prayer-banner-removal,66926">wrote a letter</a> to a Christian minister who supported Ahlquist, asserting that the cleric does “not know the Christian history of our country.”</p><p>L’Heureux told the <em>Warwick Beacon</em> that separation of church and state is a “gross misinterpretation of the law.” He currently runs something called the <a href="http://blackroberegiment.ning.com/group/rhodeislandregiment?xg_source=activity">Black Robe Regiment of Rhode Island</a>, an entity inspired by a <a href="https://www.au.org/church-state/september-2010-church-state/featured/unreality-show">fake piece of history </a>beloved by the Religious Right. It’s not much of a “regiment,” however. The current duty roster is L’Heureux and two others – one of whom lives in Georgia.</p><p>I suspect we’re going to hear more and more of these arguments as same-sex marriage spreads to other states. People will claim that their “religious freedom” is somehow infringed by what others are doing. But as we’ve explained many times here at Americans United, the only way that could happen is if churches were somehow compelled to recognize same-sex marriages – and that is not going to happen. No house of worship is going to be forced to perform any religious ceremony it does not want to perform.</p><p>Some houses of worship will choose to offer marriage services to same-sex couples. Some will not. Government clerks will be required to issue marriage licenses to all qualified applicants. End of story.</p><p>Back in the days of Barry Goldwater, conservatives preached the doctrine of self-determination. They urged folks to mind their own business and not try to run other people’s lives. I know there are still conservatives like that around – indeed they are a key component of AU’s membership – but alas, these days their voices tend to get drowned out by the strident catcalls of the Religious Right.</p><p>I wish that some of those old-fashioned conservatives would sit down and have a chat with L’Heureux. He seems awfully confused.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/marriage-including-same-sex-marriage">Marriage (including same-sex Marriage)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ronald-l-heureux">Ronald L’Heureux</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/same-sex-marriage">same-sex marriage</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/roger-williams">Roger Williams</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lincoln-chafee">Lincoln Chafee</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/daniel-procaccini">Daniel Procaccini</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/barry-goldwater">Barry Goldwater</a></span></div></div>Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:37:24 +0000Rob Boston8797 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/marriage-malarkey-ri-man-loses-faith-based-lawsuit-against-same-sex-unions#commentsAmericans United To Honor Investigative Journalist And Student Activist During Awards Ceremonyhttps://www.au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-to-honor-investigative-journalist-and-student-activist-during
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A journalist who exposed the inner workings of a shadowy Religious Right group and a Rhode Island student who courageously challenged illegal religious activity at her public school will both be recognized by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on November 19.</p><p>Jeff Sharlet, author of the best-selling books <em>The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power</em> and <em>C Street: The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy</em>, will receive Americans United’s Person of the Year Award.</p><p>Sharlet’s books examined a secretive Religious Right organization known as The Family that operates on Capitol Hill and other governmental centers. Reviewers called <em>The Family</em> “utterly original,” “brilliantly reported” and “a must read.”</p><p>Ahlquist will receive Americans United’s Youth Activist Award. A high school senior, Ahlquist garnered national attention last year when she successfully challenged the display of a large prayer banner at Cranston High School in West Cranston, R.I.</p><p>Ahlquist received a torrent of abuse and threats after filing the lawsuit and is finishing her final year of school by studying at home.</p><p>“Jeff Sharlet and Jessica Ahlquist have advanced church-state separation in important ways,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Jeff has written widely about the Religious Right and has helped Americans grasp the threat this theocratic movement poses. Jessica courageously stood up for religious liberty in her hometown, never backing down even in the face of ugly threats.”</p><p>Added Lynn, “Americans United is pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate these two activists.”</p><p>The awards ceremony will take place during a luncheon meeting of the Americans United Board of Trustees in Washington, D.C., Nov. 19.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jeff-sharlet">Jeff Sharlet</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/person-of-the-year-award">Person of the Year Award</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/youth-activist-award">Youth Activist Award</a></span></div></div><h3 >Author Jeff Sharlet And High School Student Jessica Ahlquist To Receive Recognition During Nov. 19&nbsp;Ceremony</h3>Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:14:40 +0000Timothy Ritz7731 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-to-honor-investigative-journalist-and-student-activist-during#commentsRash Of Reasonableness: R.I. School Board Ends Legal Fight Over Prayer Banner https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rash-of-reasonableness-ri-school-board-ends-legal-fight-over-prayer-banner
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Maybe now the school can get back to what it’s supposed to be doing – educating young people.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>In a rare display of reason, the Cranston, R.I., School Committee decided not to appeal a court decision in which a judge ordered the removal of a prayer banner at Cranston High School West.</p><p>The committee voted 5-2 last night not to appeal the decision, but I suspect it’s not because the committee had a genuine change of heart. After all of the <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ahlquist-is-awesome-standup-student-in-ri-stays-calm-despite-vicious">awful things</a> that community has said about Jessica Ahlquist, the 16-year-old who complained about the prayer banner, it’s more likely that reality set in.</p><p>As the committee was informed, a prolonged legal fight is <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gt2VRPjpWcXba0Jt3A_M5nwpVrqQ?docId=c6056d71b422460db8062c6e526c2f7c">real expensive</a>.</p><p>Ahlquist’s attorneys have asked for $173,000 in legal fees from the city and Joseph Cavanagh Jr., a lawyer who represented the city, said if the case went all the way to the Supreme Court it could cost an additional $500,000 in legal fees, according to the Associated Press.</p><p>"You will be wasting time and incredible resources,” resident Rosemary Tregar said at a forum before the committee vote. “Half a million dollars? How dare you.”</p><p>Apparently the dizzying costs of an appeal were enough to persuade two members of the school committee who last year voted to defend the banner in court. Committee member Paula McFarland said there are other fiscal priorities for the city and that its limited money must be spent carefully.</p><p>“This is what I don’t like about this community,” she said. “You have divided yourself in half.”</p><p>Beyond the cost is the fact that the school committee is on shaky legal ground. Judge Ronald R. Lagueux wrote an excellent and carefully-considered opinion in which he tore apart every claim the school made in defense of the banner.</p><p>As my colleague Rob Boston <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-banished-court-strikes-down-ri-school-prayer-display">wrote</a>, “In a 40-page slam dunk, Lagueux first dismissed school officials’ claims that Ahlquist had no right to challenge the banner. He then went on to explain why this official school prayer, which has been hanging in the gym since 1963, is patently unconstitutional.”</p><p> “No amount of debate can make the School Prayer anything other than a prayer, and a Christian one at that,” Lagueux observed.</p><p>Nonetheless, a few misguided people want to keep up the fight.</p><p>Christopher Young, who is running for U.S. Congress, said he is speaking with students about suing the school in order to keep the appeal going. A legal fight to continue a legal fight? Now that makes a lot of sense.</p><p>Even some students asked the board to appeal. One did so in extremely melodramatic terms.</p><p>“We have to appeal for the students of Cranston High School West and we have to appeal for our humanity,” said student David Sears Jr., according to the AP.</p><p>No one’s humanity or existence is at stake here. What’s at stake is church-state separation and religious freedom. Continuing this legal battle would be an affront to both concepts.</p><p>At least for the time being the case is over and hopefully this will be the last we hear of it. Maybe now the school can get back to what it’s supposed to be doing – educating young people.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ronald-r-lagueux">Ronald R. Lagueux</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/prayer-banner">prayer banner</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span></div></div>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:54:14 +0000Simon Brown6785 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rash-of-reasonableness-ri-school-board-ends-legal-fight-over-prayer-banner#commentsAhlquist Is Awesome!: Standup Student In R.I. Stays Calm, Despite Vicious Attackshttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ahlquist-is-awesome-standup-student-in-ri-stays-calm-despite-vicious
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">It has gotten so ridiculous that several local florists wouldn’t deliver flowers to Ahlquist’s house.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>It amazes me that so much hatred and anger lies just below the surface of many people, and that it takes so little to bring out vile words and actions. </p><p>My colleague Rob Boston <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-banished-court-strikes-down-ri-school-prayer-display">previously wrote</a> about Jessica Ahlquist, a 16-year-old high school student who filed suit to have a prayer banner removed from Cranston High School West in Cranston, R.I.</p><p>In a 40-page decision issued Jan. 11, a judge dismissed school officials’ claims that Ahlquist, who identifies as an atheist, had no right to challenge the banner. He then went on to explain why this official school prayer, which has been hanging in the gym since 1963, is patently unconstitutional.</p><p>Sadly, even though the law is on Ahlquist’s side, some in her community have continued <a href="http://cranston.patch.com/articles/ahlquist-fight-over-mural-despite-harrassment-threats-worth-it">attacking her viciously</a>. State Rep. Peter Polombo on Jan. 16 called Alhquist “an evil little thing,” a “clapping seal” and a “pawn star” on a talk radio show, according to a report on CranstonPatch.com.</p><p>Ahlquist has also been ripped to shreds across the Internet. Among the comments that are repeatable, a Twitter user said “this girl honestly needs to be punched in the face.” An anonymous commenter posted Ahlquist’s home address on the <em>Providence Journal</em>'s website.</p><p>She even received threats of physical harm and Cranston Police said they are investigating some threats directed at her on the Internet, according to CranstonPatch.</p><p>It has gotten so ridiculous that several local florists <a href="http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/298217/28/Florists-refuse-to-deliver-flowers-to-Jessica-Ahlquist">wouldn’t deliver flowers</a> to Ahlquist’s house.</p><p>"We refused the order because we really don't want to cross lines," said Raymond Santilli, owner of Flowers by Santilli, according to reports from WJAR in Cranston and CNN. "If I send flowers there, somebody may get upset with us and retaliate to us.”</p><p>Another florist who refused an order for Ahlquist, Marina Plowman of Twins Florist, agreed.</p><p>"I just chose not to do it,” she said, according to the WJAR/CNN report. “Nothing personal against her or anybody, it was a choice that I made. It was my right to do that, so I did.”</p><p>For her part, Ahlquist has displayed remarkable poise and courage.</p><p>"Even if lots of kids in school hate you, even if there's nasty comments on the Internet, it's important to stand up for something you believe in," Ahlquist said, according to CranstonPatch. "I could have said nothing but I did what I believe in and I'm glad I did what I did. I've had to deal with a lot of harassment and negative flak from people who disagree with my views and opinions, but it's all worth it."</p><p>There’s clearly a lesson here. I spoke recently by phone with someone who identified himself as a member of the Tea Party. It was pretty obvious that he and I didn’t agree and we were firm in our opposing viewpoints.</p><p>The conversation wasn’t very productive, but I listened to what he had to say and I responded. I didn’t curse. He didn’t curse. At the end, he even thanked me for being civil and told me to have a nice day. I wished him the same.</p><p>Disagreements are fine and, in fact, should be encouraged in a democracy. But there’s absolutely no reason we can’t remain calm and civil. For people to act the way they have toward Ahlquist, who isn’t even legally an adult, is both shocking and disgusting. There is no excuse for it.</p><p>Ahlquist’s story reminds me of a sign I saw at the Stephen Colbert/Jon Stewart “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” in Washington, DC in October 2010. </p><p>“I may disagree with you,” the sign said, “but I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler.”</p><p>That sign is something we should all keep in mind. You can disagree with Jessica Ahlquist and what she stands for, but it’s safe to say she’s not Hitler. A little perspective would do some people a lot of good.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/stephen-colbert">Stephen Colbert</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/peter-polombo">Peter Polombo</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span></div></div>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:46:00 +0000Simon Brown6674 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ahlquist-is-awesome-standup-student-in-ri-stays-calm-despite-vicious#commentsBanner Banished: Court Strikes Down R.I. School Prayer Displayhttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-banished-court-strikes-down-ri-school-prayer-display
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">A brave 16-year-old girl faced a howling mob over school prayer -- and prevailed. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>In October, I wrote about a young high school student named Jessica Ahlquist who <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rhode-island-banner-battle-student-jessica-ahlquist-stands-up-for-the">filed suit </a>to have a school prayer banner removed from Cranston High School West in Cranston, R.I.</p><p>At the time, the federal judge hearing the case, Ronald R. Lagueux, visited the school to examine the banner. Some observers believed he would rule within a few days.</p><p>But Lagueux didn’t do that. He took some time to thoroughly examine the issue and ruled yesterday – and it’s <a href="http://www2.turnto10.com/mgmedia/file/445/cranston-prayer-banner-ruling/">an opinion</a> worth waiting for.</p><p>In a 40-page slam dunk, Lagueux first dismissed school officials’ claims that Ahlquist had no right to challenge the banner. He then went on to explain why this official school prayer, which has been hanging in the gym since 1963, is patently unconstitutional.</p><p>The 8-foot-long banner opens with “Our Heavenly Father” and concludes with the word, “Amen.” It is even headlined “School Prayer.”</p><p>“No amount of debate can make the School Prayer anything other than a prayer, and a Christian one at that,” Lagueux observed.</p><p>It’s worth spending some time reading Lagueux’s opinion. He traces the history of the case, and it’s quite remarkable. When Ahlquist raised the issue, she immediately came under attack. Residents packed school board meetings to denounce her. Several members of the seven-person school board went out of their way to discuss their personal religious views as they explained why they were voting to retain the banner. Things got so bad at one meeting that police officers had to escort Ahlquist out of the room.</p><p>But in the end, all of this sermonizing at public meetings helped do in the school board. Lagueux cited it all as evidence that the board had clearly embarked on a religious crusade. He noted that “the tenor of the School Committee’s open meeting at times resembled a religious revival.”</p><p>Added Lagueux, “The Cranston School Committee and its subcommittee held four open meetings to consider the fate of the Mural. At those meetings a significantly lopsided majority of the speakers spoke passionately, and in religious terms, in favor of retaining the Prayer Mural. Various speakers read from the bible, spoke about their personal religious convictions, threatened Plaintiff with damnation on Judgment Day and suggested that she will go to hell. The atmosphere was such that the Superintendent of Schools felt compelled to discuss his own religious beliefs at length when he made his recommendation to the Committee that they vote to retain the Prayer Mural.</p><p>“Similarly, five of the seven School Committee members expressed avowals of their own religious beliefs at the meeting, including two of those who voted against retaining the Mural,” Lagueux continued. “This is precisely the sort of ‘civic divisiveness’ that the Supreme Court’s Establishment Clause cases repeatedly warn against. When focused on the Prayer Mural, the activities and agenda of the Cranston School Committee became excessively entangled with religion, exposing the Committee to a situation where a loud and passionate majority encouraged it to vote to override the constitutional rights of a minority.”</p><p>(It really is a fine <a href="http://www2.turnto10.com/mgmedia/file/445/cranston-prayer-banner-ruling/">opinion</a>. At its conclusion, Lagueux quotes a stirring passage from Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and early religious liberty pioneer.)</p><p>When I heard about this decision last night, I logged on to the website of the <em>Providence Journal</em> to <a href="http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/01/federal-judge-o-1.html#.Tw43OoFQbTq">read more about it</a>. I was dismayed to see the <em>Journal</em>’s comment section full of ignorant and crude attacks on Ahlquist and the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the case on her behalf. As I read some of the especially vicious comments, I could only hope that Ahlquist and her family have made some arrangements for their personal safety.</p><p>Near the end of his opinion, Lagueux called Ahlquist “clearly an articulate and courageous young woman, who took a brave stand, particularly in light of the hostile response she has received from her community.”</p><p>He’s right about that. At 16, Ahlquist had the guts to stand up to a howling mob and prevail. She deserves our support. You can learn more about her case <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/179298715436387/">here</a>.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-displays-and-holidays">Religious Displays and Holidays</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/cranston-high-school-west">Cranston High School West</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ronald-lagueux">Ronald Lagueux</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span></div></div>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:39:55 +0000Rob Boston6580 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-banished-court-strikes-down-ri-school-prayer-display#commentsRhode Island Banner Battle: Student Jessica Ahlquist Stands Up For The Constitution https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rhode-island-banner-battle-student-jessica-ahlquist-stands-up-for-the
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Disputes over religion in public schools bring out the worst in some people.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a famous decision in a school prayer case called <a href="http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&amp;vol=374&amp;invol=203"><em>Abington School District v. Schempp</em></a>. The justices, with only one dissenter, ruled school-sponsored and coercive programs of prayer and Bible reading in public schools unconstitutional.</p>
<p>That same year for some reason, students at a high school in Cranston, R.I., decided to create an 8-foot-tall banner containing an official school prayer and hang it in the school auditorium.</p>
<p>Maybe it was an act of defiance against the court. Maybe the students and administrators weren’t even thinking about what the court said. In any case, the prayer banner has remained on the wall for nearly 50 years.</p>
<p>And now a brave young woman is working to get it removed. Jessica Ahlquist, a 16-year-old junior at Cranston High School West, knew as soon as she entered the school as a freshman that the prayer didn’t belong there.</p>
<p>Ahlquist was at first reluctant to take on the matter, but eventually she contacted the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed suit on her behalf. School officials dug in, calling the prayer part of the school’s history and tradition.</p>
<p>They also lined up some outside help. A conservative Catholic-oriented legal group called the Becket Fund is representing the school. A federal judge is expected to rule tomorrow on a request for a preliminary injunction.</p>
<p>“It’s a cutting-edge case that raises some important issues,” Joseph V. Cavanagh Jr., one of the lawyers representing the school, told the <em>Providence Journal</em>.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s not. There’s nothing “cutting edge” about what the school is doing here. School officials are just violating the First Amendment and have been for five decades. As has been noted, the Supreme Court struck down school-sponsored religion in the <em>Schempp</em> case from 1963 (and in <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0370_0421_ZS.html"><em>Engel v. Vitale</em></a>, a case handed down a year earlier).</p>
<p>The prayer in question begins with a plea to “Our Heavenly Father” and concludes with the word, “Amen.” It is even headlined “School Prayer”! (Hemant Mehta, a blogger known as the “Friendly Atheist,” has a picture of the banner <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/12/01/cranston-high-school-west-fights-to-keep-prayer-banner-up/">here</a>.) It’s an obvious attempt by the school to promote religion.</p>
<p>The school officials’ refusal to correct this problem is bad enough. What’s worse about cases like this is the reaction they spark from some members of the public. As the <em>Journal</em> noted, since Ahlquist filed the suit, “[S]tudents and adults have called her a ‘stupid atheist,’ an ACLU tool, a witch and a ‘media whore.’ They’ve also threatened her through e-mails or at school, she says. A former classmate told her that, if she knew what he really thought of her, she would kill herself, she says.”</p>
<p>But this gutsy young woman is not backing down. She has her <a href="http://jessicaahlquist.com/">own blog</a>, tweets about the case and has created a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/179298715436387/">Facebook page</a> to bring attention to the issue. I admire her moxie!</p>
<p>The law is squarely on Ahlquist’s side. Public schools have no business promoting religion or encouraging students to pray or not pray. Such decisions belong in the private realm, at home and at houses of worship.</p>
<p>Let’s hope the federal court agrees tomorrow.</p>
<p>P.S. The founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, was a strong advocate of church-state separation who abhorred any mixing of the two. Old Roger must be turning over in his grave!</p>
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</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religion-public-schools-and-universities">Religion in Public Schools and Universities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/becket-fund">Becket Fund</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/cranston-high-school-west">Cranston High School West</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/hemant-mehta">Hemant Mehta</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jessica-ahlquist">Jessica Ahlquist</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/joseph-v-cavanagh-jr">Joseph V. Cavanagh Jr.</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/roger-williams">Roger Williams</a></span></div></div>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:06:20 +0000Rob Boston6162 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rhode-island-banner-battle-student-jessica-ahlquist-stands-up-for-the#comments